Date: Tue, 10 Feb 98 23:22:23 EST
From: "Betsy Gressler"
Subject: Maine Repeals Civil Rights Bill
NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Mark F. Johnson, Media Director
mfjohnson@ngltf.org
202/332-6483 x3314 voice
800/757-6476 pager
2320 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
http://www.ngltf.org
=================================================================
MAINE REPEALS CIVIL RIGHTS LAW;
FAIRNESS TAKES BACK SEAT TO ANTI-GAY RHETORIC
WASHINGTON, DC---February 10, 1998----The National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force (NGLTF) tonight expressed its disappointment at the
outcome of the vote in Maine to reject a referendum that repealed
the amendment to the state's civil rights law banning discrimination
on the basis of sexual orientation.
The measure, known as the Maine Human Rights Act, was passed by the
state legislature and signed into law by Governor Angus King last May.
A conservative group led by members of the Christian Civic League of
Maine and the state chapter of the Christian Coalition secured
signatures to put the issue to a public vote, employing Maine's rarely
used "people's veto" provision.
"The right wing again used a divisive campaign to sell the lie of
'special rights' at the ballot box," said Kerry Lobel, executive
director of NGLTF. "We will continue our efforts to secure civil rights
laws in every state."
This year's effort to defeat the measure was grassroots driven, with
hundreds of volunteers making tens of thousands of phone calls in
approximately one month's time. Tracey Conaty, NGLTF Field Organizer,
was deployed in Maine for the past 5 weeks. Conaty assisted the field
program of Maine Won't Discriminate, the organization that spearheaded
the effort to defeat the measure.
"Our thanks go to the hard-working gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgendered activists in Maine who have now faced hostile statewide
ballot measures twice in just over two years," continued Lobel. In
November of 1995, voters rejected by a margin of 53 to 47 percent a
statewide initiative that would have prohibited local and state statutes
banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. "It's time to end the
right-wing sponsored politics of division. We will continue to work with
Maine and other states until equality is the law of the land."
Civil Rights Legislative Background Information
After tonight's repeal, only ten states have laws banning discrimination
based on sexual orientation. Maine's neighboring state of New Hampshire
also passed a measure in 1997. Other states are Rhode Island (1995),
Minnesota (1993), Vermont and New Jersey (1992), Hawaii and Connecticut
(1991), Massachusetts (1989), and Wisconsin (1982). After this legislative
year, nearly a quarter of the population of the country lives in states
banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. There is no
federal law banning such discrimination.
In the 1997 state legislative session, a total of 26 favorable civil
rights bills were introduced in 21 states. Seven proactive bills were
employment-only provisions, while 15 were omnibus bills covering
employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit. The state of
Washington became the first state to advocate for the passage of a
favorable statewide civil rights ballot measure. Initiative 677 was on
the November 1997 ballot and would have banned discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation in employment in the state, however the measure did
not pass. For a review of the 1997 state sessions, see NGLTF's report
Capital Gains and Losses at http://www.ngltf.org/cgal97.
Already in the 1998 state legislative session, according to NGLTF,
favorable civil rights legislation has been introduced in Maryland,
Iowa, and the territory of Puerto Rico. More are expected as the
legislative term progresses. For updates on the 1998 state sessions,
see NGLTF's legislative updates, issued periodically throughout the
session, at http://www.ngltf.org.
-30-
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has worked to eliminate
prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered people at the local, state and national level since its
inception in 1973. As part of a broader social justice movement for
freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects
and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all
people may fully participate in society.
_________________________________________
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